The Century of the Self (Full Documentary)

Sigmund Freud's theories on the unconscious mind and human irrationality are examined for their impact on 20th-century methods of mass control. The series focuses on Edward Bernays, Freud's nephew, who pioneered the use of psychological techniques in American advertising, linking products to unconscious desires to drive consumerism. This approach shifted America from a needs-based to a desires-based culture, influencing politics and business. The program explores how governments and corporations, including the Nazis and American businesses, adopted these techniques to manage and manipulate populations. It further examines the rise of psychoanalysis in America, its use in marketing, and the subsequent backlash, alongside the story of Anna Freud and the challenges to Freudian thought. The series culminates by discussing how these concepts shaped political strategies, particularly in the campaigns of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair.